The Greater Bilby

Source: Queensland EPA website

The word bilby comes from Yuwaalaraay, an Aboriginal language, they are also known as rabbit-eared bandicoots. Like all other bandicoots, the greater bilby is a nocturnal animal. They have very soft fur that is mainly blue-grey, with some fawn. Their belly is white and they have a very distinctive black and white tail! The long snout, which is pink and hairless at the tip, gives the bilby an excellent sense of smell. Their large ears provide great hearing and it is believed that they also help to keep the bilby cool

Vist this site (http://www.schools.ash.org.au/bilbyrap/photo1.htm) for a bilby slideshow.

Habitat & Distribution

Bilbies live in deserts, dry forests, dry grasslands, and dry shrubby areas in Australia. They are nocturnal animals, coming out at night to feed. During the day they live in burrows that are often long and complex. These burrows help to shelter the bilby from changes in environmental conditions (such as the sun and wind) and from predators.

100 years ago bilbies were common in many different habitats throughout Australia, from the dry interior to the temperate coastal regions. In fact they used to live in over 70% of mainland Australia. Since European settlement however, the bilby has disappeared from New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Populations now occur only in the Tanami Desert (NT), the Greater Sandy Desert and Gibson Desert (WA) and in south-western Queensland.

Source: Adapted from Environment Australia fact sheet

Feeding & Breeding

The bilby is an omnivore. It eats insects (like termites), lizards, mice, worms, snails, fruit, seeds, and some plants. The bilby needs very little water. They obtain most of their water from their food.

Bilbies can breed all year round (whenever conditions are suitable). Like other marsupials, female bilbies have a pouch. Although the pouch has 8 nipples, they usually only produce 1 or 2 young at a time. The young remain in the pouch for 75 to 80 days, and are independent about 2 weeks later.

Threats

The bilby is hunted by foxes and feral cats. Dingoes and cattle also pose problems for the bilby. These threats are contributing to the decline in numbers of the species and need to be controlled to help protect the bilby

Save the bilby!

The bilby is in danger of extinction and nationally the species is listed as 'vulnerable'. The Queensland bilby population is the most threatened in Australia, with only about 600 to 700 animals remaining it is listed as 'endangered'.

Researchers working with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service have established a captive breeding colony of bilbies in Charleville, south west Queensland. The recovery plan to save the bilby includes the reintroduction of bilbies (including animals from the breeding colony) into Currawinya National Park. The aim of the recovery plan is to either recover bilbies to their former status or, at a minimum, to secure the status of existing populations.

Currawinya National Park was selected as the reintroduction site because:

• Bilbies once occurred there;
• Currawinya is roughly the centre of the bilby's former geographical range in eastern Australia;
• It is a large national park with permanent staff; and
• Weather conditions at Currawinya provide a reliable and diverse food supply.

The site at Currawinya has been surrounded by a two metre high fence that is predator and feral animal proof, providing the bilbies with a safe haven to live and breed.

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